Use Your Stock Shot More

I’ve been working with a young man who wants to go to the PGA Latin America Tour Qualifying in a couple of months. He strikes the ball great on the practice tee – has all the shots, but is having trouble taking it to the golf course.

We head out on the course and I watch him play four holes. As it turns out he is trying to work, or turn, the ball every shot. I don’t want him to be working the ball all the time, I want him to be using his stock shot at least 80% of the time – more if he’s not comfortable working the ball at that moment.

He plays those four holes two over and the next five holes three under. He tells me he has decided to play his stock shot all the time, but will continue to practice working the ball ‘til he becomes more comfortable with it. Pretty good idea, I think!

In the case of my guy, he didn’t have a “go to shot” or a stock shot when he came to me. Now he has a stock shot that, when the pressure is on, this is the shot he should go to. It is a swing that is simple for him, repeatable, and he knows where the ball is going to go.

He felt, in order to be a good player, he needed to be able to work the ball, which is true. However, at this stage of his career he needed a stock shot more than he needs to move the ball around.

We all have a stock shot, and if you don’t I suggest you get one – soon! The stock shot is just that, it’s the shot you use the majority of the time. It is dependable, you can count on it, it will take care of you, it is an old friend that won’t let you down.

I wish I could tell you how but without seeing your swing I can’t prescribe it for you. You’ll have to see your PGA Professional to find yours.

Tell your golf coach you want to develop your stock shot. They can assess your swing and give you a couple of things to work on. It shouldn’t require a major change, just a couple of swing keys that you can repeat when you’re out with your buddies and need a good score on the last couple of holes.

It doesn’t matter if your stock shot is a high weak slice, as long as you know where it is going. As long as you can make it happen, whenever you need it.

This is an area of your golf game where you can think like the tour professionals. Don’t try a lot of low percentage shots – those shots you know you have little chance of pulling off. Develop a stock shot you can pull out of your bag anytime – it’s your money shot!

Use it and watch your scores come down and your level of enjoyment go way up!

Kim Anders is a PGA Professional residing in Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at jkanders4@gmail.com.